Section of Defense of Marriage Act ruled unconstitutional

Language defining marriage as between one man and one woman is ruled unconstitutional

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July 9, 2010 1:20AM (UTC)

U.S. District Judge Joseph Tauro has ruled that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. Section 3 defined marriage, for the purposes of federal law, as exclusively meaning a union between one man and one woman.

This court has determined that it is clearly within the authority of the Commonwealth to recognize same-sex marriages among its residents, and to afford those individuals in same-sex marriages any benefits, rights, and privileges to which they are entitled by virtue of their marital status. The federal government, by enacting and enforcing DOMA, plainly encroaches upon the firmly entrenched province of the state, and, in doing so, offends the Tenth Amendment. For that reason, the statute is invalid.

Whether or not the Obama administration appeals the rulings remains to be seen.

Alex Pareene

Alex Pareene writes about politics for Salon and is the author of "The Rude Guide to Mitt." Email him at apareene@salon.com and follow him on Twitter @pareene